This website created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

A FRENCH CONNECTION

Copyright Valerie Martin 1997

Muriel lived in the village of Findon over seven centuries ago. Two hundred years on from the Battle of Hastings, the influence of the Norman French had spread throughout the country, even encompassing insignificant rural communities such as Findon. A proportion of the populace was of Norman descent with obvious French names.

I cannot say with certainty what Muriel’s dwelling looked like, what clothes she wore, or how she spoke. But I do know there was a measure of law and order present in her village, which gives credit to the period of King Edward I’s reign.

The following is an attempt, some seven centuries later to re-enact Findon history. It is known that there was a church in Findon in the thirteenth century. It is assumed that the village of mellowed habitats clustered around the church as tiny chicks around their mother hen. From the church, an intriguing glimpse of the roofs of the dwellings, smothered in ivy and scrub, could most probably be seen between the trees. The present field to the north is the site of the original village of Findon. Shards of medieval patterned pottery as well as glassware have been discovered in the earth. The dwellings would have been homely to their occupants with noble hearths, adorned with domestic ironwork, perhaps an iron cauldron, pot-hangers and kitchen pottery hanging above three-legged skillets.

Muriel had a son, Richard. He was, no doubt, a well-favoured and energetic young man who she considered had great qualities and joie de vivre. They had a neighbour called Robert Shaldewyn. He lived in the household of one named Ralph Cucku. It all happened a long time ago and now a lot has to be left to our imagination.

There was no known motive for the events of 1278 A.D. but it appears that Muriel’s son and Robert Shaldewyn waylaid each other at an unknown location. A quarrel was picked and they were so outraged that they fought. The reason for the savage battle is not known; perhaps their grievance was with a business deal or, maybe an affaire du coeur — cherchez la femme.

Neither do we know what weaponry they used. The law in medieval Findon required every able bodied man to keep a weapon in readiness to assist his sovereign and the realm in crisis and emergency. Maybe Robert Shaldewyn could just handle himself better than Richard and had a stronger sense of preservation. The result of the encounter was that Muriel’s son was cut down with horrific butchery, and with the final coup de grâce he suffered such severe wounds in the fracas that he died. As can be imagined the village was a-buzz with rumour and speculation.

Robert Shaldewyn feared for his life and fled, not waiting to face the consequences and he headed west. His destination was Chichester. Here he halted and sought refuge in "the Great Church of Chichester". The Assize Roll records the facts of what happened in that year in the "Hundred of Brightford".

It is known that three of Muriel’s neighbours promptly, and quite rightly, came forward, (they were probably witnesses to the crime). They were not held under suspicion. Another neighbour, Gilbert le Coveror, failed for some reason to put in an appearance at the inquest. Two men named William Frewyn and John le Clerk arrested him.

Robert Shaldewyn was eventually brought before the Coroner of the City of Chichester and charged with the tragedy. It was revealed that he did not own any belongings and had been living under the roof of Ralph Cucku in Findon. The accusation of killing Richard was quite specific and damning.

He confessed to slaying Richard and was sent into exile for his crime. This was the normal punishment for a guilty person who had fled and taken refuge in a church. His banishment meant that he might well have sailed from the ancient seaport of Shoreham heading for France. At the time, Shoreham at the mouth of the tidal River Adur, was the closest important town to Findon and extensive sea traffic plied between there and Normandy. There existed a certain entente cordiale with the French, and Shoreham already had the makings of an important historic highway to France.

In the absence of any real proof that the murdered Richard was an Englishman, it was assumed that he was, in fact, of Norman descent. He was, therefore, considered to be of some consequence in the community of Findon, and by reason of that, a fine was levied on the unfortunate "Hundred".

Findon’s so called "nearby townships" of Washington, Clapham, Offington and Broadwater did not attend in full number to the inquisition before the Coroner of Chichester and, therefore, were also liable to a fine for their non-appearance. Hard times, seven centuries ago in Findon - c’est la vie.

Continue if you would like to read about a Murder on Church Hill in the village of Findon.